Food & Beverage News

Jeremy Biser recalls growing up in Western Maryland, where going to Roy Rogers was a treat. Biser is now executive vice president of the 52-year-old Western-themed brand, which oversaw nearly 650 restaurants at its peak back in the late 1980s. The company began 2020 with 48 units—24 company-owned and 24 franchised—but Biser believes there’s an…

Operators across the country know recruiting employees is a challenge, especially in this tight labor market. With the right training, underserved young adults — unemployed, not in school — can be set up to succeed in front- and back-of-house positions in everything from quickservice to tableservice operations. How do we connect employers with these potential…

With Wendy’s launching breakfast nationwide, McDonald’s is sending its top breakfast player, the Egg McMuffin, into battle. In a clear move to disrupt Wendy’s March 2 national breakfast launch, the Chicago-based quick service chain announced plans to give away the iconic breakfast sandwich on Monday. The company is declaring March 2 “National Egg McMuffin Day.”  “While we’re giving…

7-Eleven is trying a new way of competing with traditional quick-service restaurants: shoehorning a Mexican restaurant inside its stores. The convenience store giant started installing units of Laredo Taco Company inside its retail outlets about a year ago. It’s now tinkering with a new c-store format known internally as the Evolution concept, which prominently features Laredo…

Jill McVicar Nelson has been named vice-president of marketing strategy at Dunkin’ Brands Group, Inc. In her new role, she will lead a reorganized team responsible for brand marketing and planning as well as value and pricing strategies. Ms. Nelson previously was director of corporate strategy and chief of staff to the chief executive officer…

She joins the quick-service chain from Boston Market, where she was CEO. Before that, she was president of Jack in the Box. She held several positions at Denny’s Corp., including chief brand officer and chief marketing officer, and was CMO for Dunkin’ Donuts. She also brings experience in the C.P.G. industry, having previously worked for…

Focus Brands, parent to Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s, announced the appointment of Jim Holthouser as CEO on Thursday, effective immediately. Holthouser succeeds Steve DeSutter. Focus Brands is majority owned by affiliates of private-equity firm Roark Capital Group. “Focus Brands is an outstanding company, recognized globally for its iconic brands,…

The Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 25 issued a warning letter to Jimmy John’s in connection with the Champaign, Ill.-based sandwich shop chain’s role in a string of recent outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella. Citing evidence from five outbreaks, including the most recent outbreak in Iowa during December 2019, the F.D.A. said Jimmy John’s franchised restaurants…

People want to use restaurants. According to new data from the National Restaurant Association, heading into a new decade, pent-up demand for restaurants remains high. It’s also the 11th consecutive year of industry growth, and operators are interested in using all the tools at their disposal to stay top-of-mind with an evolving consumer base. The National…

BBQ Holdings Inc., the parent company of Famous Dave’s, announced Thursday a purchase agreement to acquire the assets of craft beer chain Granite City Food and Brewery. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move is BBQ Holdings’ first foray outside of the barbecue sector. Its other two brands are the recently created Clark Crew…